Match-dispensing box.



No. 799,736. I PATENTBD SEPT. 19, 190-5. v 'F: Kl MATCH ms? NG BOX.

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FREDERICK K. HUBER, OF CELINA, TEXAS.

MATCH-DISPENSING BOX. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 1'7, 1906. Serial No. 255.972.

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIoK K. HUBER, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Celina, in the county of Collin and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Dispensing Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to match-dispensing boxes, and it is more particularlyadevice for use in public places and which permits matches to be removed only one at a time.

The object of the invention is to provide a discharging device for conducting matches one at a time to an outlet.

Another object is to employ a receiver for the discharged matches whichholds them in such position as to permit them to be readily grasped and drawn out.

A further object is to provide means for striking the match automatically when it is removed from its holder, if so desired.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a receptacle having a hopper-shaped bottom which communicates with a substantially cylindrical extension containing a rotatable match-carrier. This carrier is preferably in the form of a cylinder having one or more grooves therein for receiving matches one at a time and carrying them around, so as to cause them to drop by gravity into a holder which depends from the extension. This holder is in the form of a U-shaped receptacle, the front end of which is cut away, so that the front end of the match is exposed, whereby the same may be readily grasped and drawn outward. Means may be provided adjacent the outer end of the holder for causing the ignition of the match when the same is withdrawn; but this means is so disposed that, ifdesired. the head of the match can be raised thereabove and withdrawn withcured to a suitable support.

of the match-discharging receptacle containing a'modified form of striking device.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 is a receptacle formed of any suitable material and having ears 52, extending longitudinally from the back wall thereof, whereby said receptacle can be readily se- The receptacle is formed with a hopper-like bottom 3, having an outlet-opening 4:, which extends from front to rear of the receptacle and opens into a substantially cylindrical extension 4, forming an outlet-slot 5 in the bottom thereof, which opens into a substantially U-shaped discharging-receptacle 6. A roller 7 is rotatably mounted within the extension 4 and is supported at its ends by necks 8, which are journaled in the front and rear walls of the box, the front neck having a knob 9 secured to it, whereby the roller can be readily rotated in either direction. One or more grooves 10 are formed longitudinally within the roller, and the rear ends of these grooves are enlarged, as shown at '11, so as to accommodate the heads of matches a. The front portion of the receptacle 6 has its side walls and bottom cut away, as shown at 12, and said side walls are abraded adjacent the cut-away portion, as shown at 13. These roughened surfaces 13 do not extend the full height of the side walls of receptacle 6, but form a space thereabove of sufiicient proportions to permit the withdrawal of a match without causing its head to contact with said roughened surfaces.

In using the box herein described a box of matches is broken open at one end and inserted with said opened end downward into the receptacle 1, so that the heads of the matches will be adjacent the rear wall of the receptacle. One of the matches will always rest by gravity upon that portion of the roller 7 which is exposed through the opening in the hopper-shaped bottom 3. By turning the roller 7 in either direction by means of knob 9 this match will be caused to drop into the first groove 10 registering therewith and will be carried in said groove around to the slot 5. It will drop through this slotinto the U-shaped receptacle 6, with one end thereof projecting beyond the side walls of the receptacle and in position to be readily grasped. By pulling the match straight from the receptacle its head will rub over the roughened surface 13 and be ignited. If, however, it is desired to remove the match without lighting it, its head can be forced upward and withdrawn IIO from the receptacle 6 at a point above the roughened portion 13. Should the matches clog the outlet in bottom 3, the roller 7 can be rotated from side to side until one of the matches is free to fall into one of the grooves 10.

In Fig. 41 have shown a construction which can be utilized instead of the abraded surfaces shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. With this modified form the outlet end of the receptacle 6 is enlarged, as shown at 14, to receive a strip of emery or sand paper 15, which has the same function as the projections 13.

It will be seen that this device is very simple and inexpensive in construction and is an effective means for preventing the indiscriminate removal of matches. It is equally adapt ed for home or public use in that the matches can be ignited when removed or not, according as may be desired.

1n the foregoing description I have shown the preferred forms of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as 1 am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Adevice of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from the outlet, an inclosed rotatable device within the extension having a plurality of grooves, each of said grooves having an enlarged portion, a rigid dischargereceptacle adapted to successively receive articles from the grooves, and means within said discharge-receptacle for igniting a match withdrawn therefrom.

2. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from said outlet, an inclosed grooved rotatable device within the extension, and a discharge-receptacle below said device and adapted to receive articles from the groove therein, said discharge-receptacle being of less lengththan the groove and having parallel rigid side walls.

3. device of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from the outlet, an inclosed rotatable device within the extension having grooves adapted to register with the outlet and a discharge-receptacle below the rotatable device and adapted to receive articles from the groove, the walls of said discharge-receptacle being parallel and rigid and cut away at one end.

4:. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from the outlet, an inclosed rotatable device within the extension having a groove adapted to register with the outlet, a discharge-receptacle below said device and adapted to receive articles from the groove therein, said receptacle having rigid walls and the outlet end of said receptacle being cut away, and means adjacent said outlet end for automatically igniting a match when withdrawn therefrom.

5. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from the outlet, an inclosed rotatable device within the extension and having a plurality of grooves adapted to successively register with the outlet, a dischargereceptacle below the device and adapted to receive articles successively from the grooves, said receptacle having an outlet at one end and being shorter than the groove, and means adjacent the outlet of the discharge-receptacle for automatically igniting a match withdrawn from the receptacle.

6. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from the outlet, an inclosed rotatable device within the extension and hava ing a plurality of grooves adapted to register with the outlet, a discharge-receptacle below the device and adapted to successively receive articles from the groove, said receptacle having an outlet atone end and being shorter than the groove, and means adjacent the outlet of the discharge-receptacle for automatically igniting a match drawn therefrom, said means being spaced a sufiicient distance from the top of the discharge-receptacle to permit the withdrawal of the match thereabove.

7 A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having an outlet, an extension projecting from the outlet, an inclosed rotatable device within the extension having a plurality of grooves adapted to register with the outlet, said grooves being provided with enlarged match-head-receiving portions, means for rotating said device, a dischargereceptacle below and adapted to receive matches from the rotatable device, said receptacle having rigid walls and its front end cut away to expose the end of a match therein, and means adjacent the outlet of the discharge-receptacle for automatically igniting a match withdrawn therefrom, said means being disposed at a distance from the upper end of the outlet suflicient to permit the with drawal of a match without igniting it.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIOK K. HUBER.

Witnesses:

W. S. HUNTER, J. H. L. .C. ENGLISH. 

